Low temperature process for producing nano-sized titanium dioxide particles

ABSTRACT

A process for synthesizing nano-sized rutile, anatase, or a mixture of rutile and anatase TiO 2  powder. The process includes the steps of: 1) forming a Ti-peroxo complex by mixing H 2 O 2  with a Ti compound, and 2) heating the Ti-peroxo complex at a temperature of above 50° C. A primary particle size of TiO 2  particles, synthesized by the method, is below 50 nm, and an agglomerated particle size thereof after a washing/dry process is below about 10 μm. The major characteristics of the present invention are that it is a low temperature process, a highly concentrated synthesis, and high production yield of above 90%.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/846,231 filed Sep. 21, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a process for producing nano-sized titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particles, either rutile, anatase or a mixture of rutile and anatase, of which the primary particle size is about 10 to 50 nm and of which an agglomerated particle size after drying is about 10 μm or less. The major characteristics of the process are that it is a low temperature process that can operate below 100° C., that it is produces a highly concentrated reaction product above 2.5M TiO₂, that it has a high production yield of above 90%, and that it is a simplified process.

BACKGROUND ART

Titanium dioxide is a material having diverse fields of application such as paints, plastics, cosmetics, inks, paper, chemical fiber, and optical catalysts. TiO₂ is currently being produced all over the world using a sulfate and chloride process.

The sulfate process was commercialized in 1916 by a Norwegian company called Titan; this process produces TiO₂ through a hydrolysis process and a calcination process at a temperature of 800 to 1000° C., and produces TiO₂ powder through a pulverization process.

The chloride process was more recently developed in 1956 by Du Pont, a U.S. company. The major production reaction is a process of reacting TiCl₄ with oxygen at a temperature of about 1500° C., thereby producing TiO₂. Relative to the sulfate process, the chloride process has advantages in that the amount of waste is reduced, continuous processing is possible, and high-quality rutile TiO₂ is produced; and hence the chloride process accounts for approximately 60% of the worldwide TiO₂ production.

However, since Impurities are mixed and fed in and the reaction temperature is high during the sulfate and chloride processes, the sulfate and chloride processes are disadvantageous for synthesizing high-purity TiO₂ particles with the submicron or nano size. As a result, many studies about a method of synthesizing nano-sized TiO₂ particles have now been conducted.

Kim et al. disclosed a low temperature synthesis process of nano-sized rutile and a mixture of rutile and anatase in U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,326. They obtained rutile and a mixture of rutile and anatase by diluting an aqueous titanyl chloride solution to a concentration of about 0.2 to 1.2 and heating the diluted aqueous titanyl chloride solution at a temperature in the range of 15 to 155° C.

Musick et al. suggested a method of modifying a chloride process and synthesizing nano-sized powder in U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2006/0251573 A1. They described a method of synthesizing nano-sized particles with a size of about 80 to 100 nm by reacting titanium tetrachloride at a temperature of above 800° C. and with a pressure of about 5 to 25 psig in the presence of water vapor.

Yang et al. disclosed a process of producing rutile TiO₂ using TiCl₄ in Korean Patent No. 10-0420275. They suggested a method of producing crystalline TiO₂ by preparing Ti aqueous solution of 0.1M to 1.4M by adding 0.01 to 5M of mineral acid and distilled water to TiCl₄ at a temperature of −10 to 10° C., heating the prepared Ti aqueous solution at a temperature of 15 to 200° C. for about 24 hours, adding an alkali aqueous solution to the heated Ti aqueous solution, and then adjusting a final pH of the solution to 6 to 8.

The limitations of the prior art are overcome by the present invention as described below.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a simplified process that still provides a lower temperature process of producing more highly concentrated TiO₂ as compared to the conventional methods developed so far. The present invention is a process for synthesizing nano-sized rutile, anatase or a mixture of rutile and anatase TiO₂ powder. The process can operate below 100° C., wherein a highly concentrated synthesis is possible, and with a high production yield of above 90%. A primary particle size of TiO₂ particles synthesized by the process of the present invention is about 10-50 nm, and an agglomerated particle size thereof after a washing/drying process is below about 10 μm.

The process comprises the steps of forming a Ti-peroxo complex by mixing a titanium compound, such as TiCl₄ or/and TiOCl₂, with hydrogen perioxide (H₂O₂) and then heating the Ti-peroxo complex at a temperature above 50° C. to make a solution containing nano-sized TiO₂.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an FE-SEM micrograph of TiO₂ powder obtained in Example 1.

FIG. 2 is a graph of XRD data for TiO₂ powder obtained in Example 1.

FIG. 3 is a graph of XRD data for TiO₂ powder obtained in Example 2.

FIG. 4 is a graph of XRD data for TiO₂ powder obtained in Example 3.

FIG. 5 is a graph of XRD data for TiO₂ powder obtained in Example 4.

FIG. 6 is a graph of EDS analysis results for TiO₂ powder obtained in Example 4.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to provide a process suitable for commercial production of nano-sized TiO₂ in either rutile; anatase or a mixture of rutile and anatase phases. The major characteristics of this invention are that it can be operated at a low temperature with a high production yield of above 90%, and highly concentrated TiO₂ solution of above 2.5 molarity.

The process comprises the steps of forming a Ti-peroxo complex by mixing a titanium compound, such as TiCl₄ or/and TiOCl₂, with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and then heating the Ti-peroxo complex at a temperature of above 50° C. to make a solution containing nano-sized TiO₂. The titanium compound may be selected from the group consisting of TiCl₄, TiOCl₂, TiCl₃, TiBr₄, Ti(SO₄)₂.mH₂O, TiOSO₄.nH₂O, Tetra Methoxy Titanium, Tetra Ethoxy Titanium, Tetra-n-Propoxy Titanium, Tetra Iso Propoxy Titanium, Tetra-n-Butoxy Titanium, Tetra Iso Butoxy Titanium, Tetra-Sec-Butoxy Titanium, Tetra-T-Butoxy Titanium, Tetra Alkoxy Titanium, and Tetra Stearyl Oxy Titanium and a combination of the preceding.

The formation of the Ti-peroxo complex, which is needed to form TiO₂ particles, can be obtained by adding H₂O₂ and H₂O to the Ti compound. Here, about 0.1 to 10 mol, or preferably about 1 to 4 mol of H₂O₂ is added to a concentration of 3 mol of Ti ions. A final volume is made in about 1 liter by adding H₂O to the remaining concentration of Ti ion. A point in time to add H₂O may be before or after adding H₂O₂ to the Ti compound, or H₂O may be added to the Ti compound together with H₂O₂.

The color of the solution when H₂O₂ is added changes into reddish brown, which tells us that the Ti-peroxo complex is now formed. In an acidic condition with the pH below 1, a forming reaction of the Ti-peroxo titanium complex follows as: Ti.aq ⁴⁺+H₂O₂→TiO₂(OH)_(n-2) ^(4-n) +nH⁺  eq 1

The formation of the Ti-peroxo complex by addition of H₂O₂ is an exothermic reaction and thus generates heat. The excessive thermal generation in the solution may cause generation of anatase TiO₂. Thus, to form pure rutile TiO₂, it is necessary to reduce the temperature of the solution to below 50˜60° C. while adding H₂O₂. Also, even when raising the pH value by forming the Ti-peroxo complex and then adding alkali materials, it may promote the formation of anatase TiO₂. Thus, adding of additional alkali materials should be avoided to form rutile TiO₂. To accelerate the formation of anatase TiO₂, the H₂O₂ and titanium compound may be mixed with a chemical selected from the group consisting of an alkali, a compound containing SO₄ ²⁻, NO₃ ⁻ and F⁻ and a combination of the preceding. The alkali may be selected from the group consisting of NH₄OH, NaOH, KOH, LiOH, Ca(OH)₂, Mg(OH)₂, Ba(OH)₂, Na₂CO₃, K₂CO₃, Hydroxyl amine, Hydrazine and Ethanol amine. The compound containing SO₄ ²⁻, NO₃ ⁻ and F⁻ ions may be selected from the group consisting of H₂SO₄, HNO₃ and NaF.

As shown in FIG. 1, the formation of the Ti-peroxo complex through a mixture of TiOCl₂ and H₂O₂ reacts by the ratio of 1:1 mol. Accordingly, in the forming reaction of rutile TiO₂ by dissolution of the Ti-peroxo complex, it is expected that a complete reaction may occur when the ratio of (number of moles of H₂O₂)/(number of TiOCl₂) is above 1. However, even when the molar ratio was below 1, i.e. 0.33, the production yield of 90% or higher was observed. It is believed that nuclei of ruffle TiO₂, which is formed by dissolution of the Ti-peroxo complex, promotes the formation of rutile TiO₂ in the solution.

The solution of the Ti-peroxo complex, which is formed by means of the above-described process, is heated at a temperature of above 50° C., or more preferably at a temperature within the range of between 80 and 100° C. When the temperature was below 80° C., there was a tendency that the production yield decreased. Conversely, when the temperature is above 100° C., pressurization equipment must be used and thus it is not believed to be a desirable condition.

Two methods may be used for doping or coating TiO₂ into a proper metal. The first method is adding a metal salt, which is soluble in solution during the process of forming a Ti-peroxo complex, and then heating the solution. In this case, the heating and the pH conditions are the same as the conditions for synthesizing pure TiO₂. It is believed that metal ions, which exist as ions in the Ti-peroxo complex, are adsorbed in or onto the surface of nano-sized TiO₂ particles formed during a process of forming TiO₂ particles. In the second method, the Ti-peroxo complex is heated to form TiO₂ particles and then metal salts are added. It is believed that the added metal salts are adsorbed onto the surface of the formed TiO₂ particles and will be changed into oxide during a heating and drying process. Materials that can be used for doping and coating are metal salts containing a metal selected from V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Sn, W, Pt, Au, Sr, Al and Si.

The pH level of the TiO₂ solution formed after the reaction was below 1, showing a strong acid, and precipitated on the bottom of the reactor. After the precipitation, impurities present in the TiO₂ solution were completely removed by carrying out a process of throwing away an upper solution and then pouring in distilled water twice or three times, adding alkali materials such as NaOH and KOH, and thus repeating the washing process while adjusting the final pH to a concentration between 4 and 10. TiO₂ particles of which an initial particle size is below 50 nm and an agglomerated particle size is below 10 μm were obtained from the solution by completely eliminating the water from the TiO₂ solution from which impurities were removed using centrifugal separation, and finally cleaning and drying the TiO₂ solution with alcohol.

Example 1

A yellow TiOCl₂ solution was prepared by dropping TiCl₄ in ice and diluting the solution until a concentration of Ti ions became about 4M to 5.5M. The TiOCl₂ solution was stirred and agitated while slowly adding 30% H₂O₂ thereto at a molar concentration ratio identical to that of Ti. In this instance, a dark red (brown) Ti-peroxo complex was formed and heat was generated at the same time. The molar concentration of Ti ions became about 3M in the resulting solution by further adding ice. The dark red solution was heated and stirred at a temperature of about 80° C. for about 1.5 hours. After 1.5 hours, the solution was all precipitated as white 1102 crystalline phases. By neutralizing, washing, and drying the solution with NaOH, the size of initial particles, which were acquired from FE-SEM (FIG. 1) and XRD analysis (FIG. 2), was about 10 nm, and the resulting phases of XRD were all rutile.

Example 2

A dark red peroxo complex was formed by adding 30% H₂O₂ to a 24% Ti(SO₄)₂ solution at a molar concentration ratio identical to that of Ti. The pH level of the solution was made to become about 0.8 by adding NH₄OH to said peroxo complex. A molar concentration of Ti ions became about 0.5M by adding purified water or ice to the solution. By washing and drying a TiO₂ solution, which was obtained by heating and stirring the solution at a temperature of about 100° C. for more than two hours, the resulting phase of the XRD analysis (FIG. 3) were all anatase.

Example 3

A yellow TiOCl₂ solution was prepared by dropping TiCl_(a) in ice and diluting the solution until a concentration of Ti became about 4M to 5.5M. The TiOCl₂ solution was stirred while quickly adding 30% H₂O₂ thereto at a molar concentration ratio identical to that of Ti. In this instance, a dark red (brown) Ti-peroxo complex was formed and heat was generated at the same time. The molar concentration of Ti ions became about 3M in the resulting solution by further adding purified water. The dark red solution was heated and stirred at a temperature of about 80° C. for about 1.5 hours. After 1.5 hours, the solution was all precipitated as white TiO₂ crystalline phases. By neutralizing, washing, and drying the solution with NaOH, the resulting phases of the XRD analysis (FIG. 4) were a mixture of anatase and rutile phases.

Example 4

A yellow TiOCl₂ solution was prepared by dropping TiCl₄ in ice and diluting the solution until a concentration of Ti became about 4M to 5.5M. The TiOCl₂ solution was stirred while adding ZnCl₂ with Zn 2.6 wt % to TiO₂, and slowly adding 30% H₂O₂ thereto at a molar concentration ratio Identical to that of Ti. In this instance, a dark red (brown) Ti-peroxo complex was formed and heat was generated at the same time. The molar concentration of Ti ions became about 3M in the resulting solution by further adding ice. The dark red solution was heated and stirred at a temperature of about 80° C. for about 1.5 hours. After 1.5 hours, the solution was all precipitated as white TiO2 crystalline phases. By neutralizing, washing, and drying the solution with NaOH, the resulting phases of the XRD analysis (FIG. 5) were all rutile. As a result of EDS analysis (FIG. 6 and Table 1), 2.59 wt % of Zn was detected.

TABLE 1 Element Line Weight % Cnts/s O Ka 17.19 19.16 Ti Ka 80.22 651.49 Zn Ka 2.59 3.44 Total 100

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is able to produce nano-sized TiO₂ in either rutile or anatase phases. The process is a low temperature process that achieves a high production yield of above 90%, and a highly Concentrated TiO₂ solution of above 2.5 mol.

The present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred and alternative embodiments that are intended to be exemplary only and not limiting to the full scope of the present invention. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A process for producing nano-sized TiO₂, consisting essentially of the steps of: (a) forming an aqueous Ti-peroxo complex by mixing water, H₂O₂ and a titanium compound selected from the group consisting of TiCl₄, TiOCl₂, TiCl₃, TiBr₄, Ti(SO₄)₂.mH₂O, TiOSO₄.nH₂O, Tetra Methoxy Titanium, Tetra Ethoxy Titanium, Tetra-n-Propoxy Titanium, Tetra Iso Propoxy Titanium, Tetra-n-Butoxy Titanium, Tetra Iso Butoxy Titanium, Tetra-Sec-Butoxy Titanium, Tetra-T-Butoxy Titanium, Tetra Alkoxy Titanium, and Tetra Stearyl Oxy Titanium and a combination of the preceding, wherein said H₂O₂ and said titanium compound are mixed with a chemical selected from the group consisting of an alkali a compound containing SO₄ ²⁻, NO₃ ⁻ or F⁻ and a combination of the preceding to accelerate the formation of anatase TiO₂; and (b) heating the aqueous Ti-peroxo complex at a temperature of above 50° C. to 100° C. to precipitate nano-sized TiO₂ particles.
 2. The process of claim 1, wherein said alkali is selected from the group consisting of NH₄OH, NaOH, KOH, LiOH, Ca(OH)₂, Mg(OH)₂, Ba(OH)₂, Na₂CO₃, K₂CO₃, Hydroxylamine, Hydrazine and Ethanol amine.
 3. The process of claim 1, wherein said compound containing SO₄ ²⁻, NO₃ ⁻ or F⁻ ions is selected from the group consisting of H₂SO₄, HNO₃ and NaF.
 4. The process of claim 1, wherein in step (a), said H₂O₂ and said titanium compound are mixed with a salt of a metal to form metal-doped TiO₂ particles.
 5. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding a salt of a metal to the nano-sized TiO₂ particles formed by steps (a) and (b) to form metal-coated TiO₂ particles.
 6. The process of claim 4, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Sn, W, Pt, Au, Sr, Al and Si.
 7. The process of claim 5, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Sn, W, Pt, Au, Sr, Al and Si. 